Spool Notch Control Valve for Reach Forklift Mast Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing control valves for reach forklifts require complex configurations and additional components like flow regulating valves and detection parts, making them expensive and difficult to control, and they fail to stabilize the mast during abrupt stops.
Innovation Solution
A control valve with a spool that selectively connects high-pressure and low-pressure hydraulic oil passages using a cut-out portion on the land, which changes the opening area in two steps, stabilizing the mast during abrupt stops and reducing power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a flow regulating valve and detection parts are added to stabilize the mast during abrupt stops, then the stability is improved, but the device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the flow control function and the stability control function into a single control valve body with a specifically designed spool structure. The cut-out portion in the spool land integrates the functions of flow regulation and abrupt stop stabilization without requiring separate flow regulating valves or detection parts, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the spool land by adding a cut-out portion with specific dimensions and positions. This parameter modification allows the valve to automatically adjust hydraulic flow characteristics during abrupt stops, providing mast stability through structural design rather than additional components
2Reliability
If a flow regulating valve is added to control hydraulic oil flow rate, then the mast stability is improved, but the power consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The control valve with the cut-out portion spool structure automatically regulates hydraulic flow without requiring external power input or active control systems. During abrupt stops, the valve self-adjusts the flow rate based on the spool position, providing mast stability while avoiding the power consumption associated with electronically controlled flow regulators
3Loss of energy
If the opening area of the cut-out portion is increased to reduce power consumption, then the pump load decreases, but the mast stability during abrupt stops deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cut-out portion is strategically positioned in a specific local region of the spool land, creating a localized flow control zone. This local modification allows the valve to maintain small opening area in critical regions for stability while providing sufficient flow paths in other areas to reduce pump load and power consumption
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The control valve provides a simple configuration that stabilizes the mast during reach-out operations, reduces power consumption, and prevents battery drain by optimizing hydraulic oil flow rates, while being easier to process and cost-effective.
Implementation Method 1
selectively connects a first passage to which high-pressure hydraulic oil is introduced and a second passage which is open at a low-pressure region
Implementation Method 2
the cut-out portion has a shape in which an area of an opening formed between the valve body and the land changes in two steps
Data Source
AI summary
A notch 41, which is formed on a land 31 that, in a main spool 30, blocks a reach-in side actuator port A from communicating with a second passage T, comprises a first notch and a second notch. The first notch comprises a first region that has a semi-circular shape in the plan view and in which the area of an opening between a valve body 40 and the land 31 becomes gradually larger, and a second region that is connected to the first region and in which the area of an opening between the valve body 40 and the land 31 is constant, and the second notch comprises a third region that has a semi-circular shape in the plan view and in which the area of the opening between the valve body 40 and the land 31 gradually becomes larger, and a fourth region that is connected to the third region and in which the area of the opening between the valve body 40 and the land 31 is constant.